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The U.S. Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) recently reported as of February 18, 2023, this flu season's weekly hospitalization rate was abnormal.
This week's cumulative hospitalization rate is the second-highest rate observed in week #7 during previous seasons, going back to 2010-2011, followed by the 2017-2018 season.
However, this in-season cumulative hospitalization rate is still lower than end-of-season hospitalization rates for five flu seasons going back to 2010-2011.
When examining rates among 2,485 hospitalized adults with information on underlying medical conditions, 96.7% had at least one reported underlying medical condition.
The most commonly reported were hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorder, and obesity.
Among 1,019 hospitalized children with information on underlying medical conditions, 65.6% had at least one reported underlying medical condition.
The most commonly reported condition was asthma, followed by neurologic disease and obesity.
Additionally, the CDC confirmed there has been 115 influenza-associated pediatric fatalities (about 30% were vaccinated) during the 2022-2023 flu season.
And a recent CDC analysis published on February 22, 2023, and in a related MMWR on February 24, 2023, stated 2022-2023 influenza vaccine preliminary effectiveness was about 68% protective of pediatric patients.
And it protected about 43% of adults against influenza-related hospitalization.
Updated flu season news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.
The World Health Organization (WHO today reported the cumulative number of Marburg virus disease (MVD) cases in Equatorial Guinea is nine, including one confirmed case, four probable cases, and four suspected cases.
All these viral hemorrhagic fever cases have died as of February 21, 2023.
MVD previously had a case-fatality ratio of up to 88%.
These MVD cases occurred between early January and February 7, 2023, in two villages in the Nsock Nsomo, eastern province of Kie-Ntem, Río Muni Region.
And the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea confirmed one fatality was in a health facility, and there are no cases among healthcare workers.
However, thirty-four close contacts are currently under follow-up as of February 25, 2023.
Additionally, other African countries are on alert for MVD cases.
WHO assesses the risk posed by the MVD outbreak as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.
To notify international travelers of their health risks, the U.S. CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice regarding Equatorial Guinea's MVD outbreak.
The CDC says Marburg virus disease symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
And there are no specific treatments or approved vaccines for MVD, says the WHO.
Recent news indicates Marburg vaccine candidates are accelerating their clinical research as of February 25, 2023.
A new study conducted in Las Vegas suggests that when testing for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the results may actually overestimate the virus's local health risks.
The findings from an Original Investigation suggest the continual influx of tourists in vacation destinations may distort clinical testing relevance.
While wastewater surveillance is a valuable complement to clinical tools and can provide time-sensitive data for decision-makers and policymakers, this study represents a novel approach to quantifying the confounding effects of mobile populations on wastewater surveillance data.
Furthermore, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater does not indicate infectivity, so while a significant viral load may be contributed by visitors (>60% in this study), this does not necessarily prove that visitors are a significant contributor to local COVID-19 transmission.
Researchers from the University of Nevada collaborated with the Southern Nevada Water Authority on the study published by the JAMA Network Open on February 23, 2023.
Note: This study's conclusions may apply to other tourist destinations such as Paris, Miami, New York, London. and Tokyo.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) today announced it is aware of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak announced in Equatorial Guinea on February 13, 2023.
As of February 24, 2023, there are no cases of MVD in Nigeria.
However, the NCDC, relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and partners have taken proactive measures to mitigate the risk of cross-border importation.
Based on available data, the overall risk of importation of the Marburg virus and the impact on the health of Nigerians has been assessed as MODERATE for the following reasons:
- The extent of the outbreak in Equatorial Guinea has not yet been ascertained.
- The likelihood of importation to Nigeria is high due to the direct flight between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
- The proximity of Equatorial Guinea to Nigeria.
- The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with upcoming national elections.
- The case fatality rate of MVD ranges between 24 to 88%.
- MVD does not currently have an effective drug for treatment or a licensed vaccine for prevention.
The NCDC's risk assessment also shows that Nigeria has the technical, human (health workforce), and diagnostic capacity to respond effectively during an MVD outbreak.
To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions alert in mid-February 2023, confirming MVD is a viral hemorrhagic fever.
Its symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Infection with the Marburg virus is often fatal.
Furthermore, there is no specific treatment or approved vaccine for MVD.
In the United States, influenza activity began earlier than usual this season, increasing in October 2022. However, influenza infections have steadily diminished since a peak in late December 2022.
According to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published today by the U.S. CDC, Influenza A(H3N2) represented most of the viruses detected and subtyped during this period.
The best news is that this virus is the same genetic subclade as and antigenically similar to the viruses included in the 2022–23 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
This is important since the effectiveness of seasonal flu shots varies by season, as influenza virus subtype and antigenic match with circulating viruses.
This MMWR interim report used data from two concurrent studies conducted in Wisconsin from October 23, 2022–February 10, 2023, to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE).
Overall, VE was 54% against medically attended outpatient acute respiratory illness associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza A among patients aged six months–64 years.
In a community cohort of children and adolescents aged <18, VE was 71% against symptomatic laboratory-confirmed influenza A virus infection.
Furthermore, these interim analyses indicate that influenza vaccination substantially reduced the risk for medically attended influenza among persons aged <65 years and for symptomatic influenza in children and adolescents.
The CDC says 'annual influenza vaccination is the best strategy for preventing influenza and its complications, and recommends that health care providers continue administering it to persons aged ≥6 months as long as influenza viruses are circulating.
As of February 24, 2023, various flu shots remain available at pharmacies throughout the U.S.
Moreover, most flu shots are offered at no cost to the person.
Cambodia's Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health today confirmed that an emergency response found 12 people infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HAPI) A(H5N1) in Prey Veng province.
As reported by the Khmer Times on February 23, 2023, this news follows a recent death of an 11-year-old girl from 'bird flu' in Roleang village, Romlech commune, Sithor Kandal district, Prey Veng province.
Panharith Seng, director of the Prey Veng provincial health department, told VOA Khmer on February 23, 2023, that chickens and ducks found in the area where the girl lived had recently died of the H5N1 virus.
According to the Ministry of Health, the girl is the first person to die of H5N1 since 2014.
The Ministry of Health added that bird flu has been endemic in Cambodia since 2005, with a total of 57 infections and 38 deaths.
As of February 2, 2023, the World Health Organization reported a total of 240 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus had been reported from four countries within the Western Pacific Region since January 2003.
Of these cases, 135 were fatal.
Globally, seven human influenza A H5N1 2.3.4.4b infections were reported in Ecuador, China, Vietnam, the U.K., Spain (2), and Colorado during 2022-2023.
Bird Flu (Avian influenza) is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses that occur naturally among birds and domestic poultry.
The Eurasian H5N1 strain appeared in North America in January 2022 and has impacted 47 states, leading to the loss of over 58 million birds as of early February 2023.
Additionally, bird flu infections have been confirmed in various mammals, such as bears, foxes, and seals.
In the event of a human-based bird flu outbreak, the U.S. government has already approved the Audenza™ vaccine.
And the U.S. CDC had not issued a travel alert regarding Cambodia's bird flu outbreak.
This is an active event with VOA updates inserted. As of February 24, 2023, Cambodia reported a second human case of H5N1 bird flu.
Breaking bird flu news is posted here.
Update: Feb. 26, 2023 - This case was Clade 2.3.2.1c avian influenza virus has been endemic in Southeast Asia for ~10 years, and human-human transmission ability has not been established.
